Kaley Update

I wanted to do an update on how my Kaley girl has been doing.



She still has her moments, but the sweet Kaley that you sometimes saw- you see a lot more often. She is much more enjoyable to play with, and a whole lot easier to reason with. (Sometimes)


She is doing great in school. Her teacher and I figured out that if Kaley knows we are in constant contact, Kaley is more likely to behave in class. She has a lot of friends in her class, so she gets in trouble for talking and taddling. The teacher says she is getting better everyday. She is graded on a number scale for behavior. It's from 1-5. One being principal, 5 being excellent. Kaley gets a 5 about four times a week. The one day she gets a 4 it's usually for taddling. She says all the boys chase her on the playground. Scary!


She really enjoys learning her writing and reading. I find sweet little notes under my pillow. She is constantly asking me how to spell things and then writing it on her note pad. She can read books like, "Go Dog Go." She always comes home and does her homework first thing. Right now I call her homework "monkey homework" because a monkey could do it, but I know soon I will have no idea how to help her.


Kaley also started gymnastics last Wednesday. She has been begging me to take up gym again, and I finally gave in. She is enjoying it. On Tuesdays she does an after school program called Marathon Kids, where they run laps around the track for about 30 minutes. When the program is over she will have run a marathon. Her face is always bright red when I pick her up, and she digs it.



Love her!
(Check out my tan!)

Fall Fest

Kaley's school had a Fall Festival on Friday, and it was an amazing Austin suburb spectacle. They had a cake walk, jumpy houses, games, food, a petting zoo, an auction, ice cream and my favorite fresh made kettle corn.

Kaley spent most of the time looking for her friends that she promised she would see there. Here are a few of her friends. Grant, Jake, Kaley and Jude. My three favorite boys in her class. So cute.

When Kaley finally gave up on finding all her friends she spent the rest of the night in the petting zoo. Here she is holding a baby chick.

Mommy doesn't do petting zoos especially after seeing a little girl get pooped on. Plus it was so sad seeing the animals hover in a corner to hide from all the grabby hands. Every time a kid picked up the poor pig his squeal could be heard from a mile away. Bordered on animal cruelty.

Kaley, believe it or not was very gentle and sweet to the animals. All she wanted to do was feed them. She did however beg for a pet chicken all the way home.

Meanwhile, Flo was determined to win the cake walk. He finally beat all those Elementary kids and won some chocolate chip brownies as his prize. They were delicious, but Kaley was a little upset he didn't get a cake.

Kindergarten

So Kaley girl started Kindergarten yesterday. She was very excited. Last week we went and met her teacher and found out that 4 out of the 5 kids she knew going into Kinder were in her class. Even the little boy next door who she stalks. I've heard her teacher is very nice and the kids like her but a little disorganized. haha That's Kindergarten Mommy talk.

At Kinder Camp they were given a homework assignment to turn in on Monday. They had to make a cutout of themselves with things that describe them. This is Kaley's project. She is wearing a swimsuit, fishing in one hand and holding a picture of her and her sister in the other. Flo and I wanted to put a fajita in her hand, but she wanted a picture of her Sis. She also decorated her feet to look like her new sparkly Sketchers.

This is Kaley on her first day. I am so lucky that she doesn't care what she wears or how her hair is fixed. I still get to doll her up. However, she was very insistent on what shoes she wore. She really wanted the new Twinkle Toes Sketchers for the new school year. They are bright colored and covered in peace signs, bling and glitter. Plus they light up. She's crazy about them. The good thing about having our little neighbor boy in her class is that he can spy on her. I made sure to tell him to let me know if the shoes become a problem in class. He promised he would tell me. As my mom used to always say, "I have spies everywhere."

Kaley was very good when we got to school. She went right in, found her cubby and her seat and began her assignment. As I left her class and passed several crying Mommies I began praising God and singing Hallelujah. It was a nice and peaceful first day of school. I'm very proud of my Boo. She loved school and was very excited to go back.

Reeling It In

Kaley girl is quite the fisherman. Before we went to the lake Flo went out and bought her a small $10 Dora fishing pole.



Thinking she would maybe catch a few perches. Well, little did he know that as soon as she put her pole in the water she would catch perch and the occasional catfish. She literally casts the line and catches a fish. She uses chicken, lunch meat, corn and even fish as bait.



It's a good thing Kaley can catch fish so quickly at the boat dock because I'm sure if it took any patience (like fishing usually does) then she would not have been at all interested.

Lakeway VBS

Kaley just finished up a week at Lakeway Church Vacation Bible School. She had a blast singing songs, doing crafts, playing games and of course learning about God. It lasted Monday through Friday 9-12, and she was very excited to go every day.


On the last day of VBS the church had a party Friday evening. All the kids sang the songs they learned that week, and we all ate hot dogs. Then they slid down inflatable water slides. The water at the bottom of that slide was so gross. It was black and all the kids were covered in grass. Kaley woke up with an ear infection. I'm sure that nasty water had something to do with it.



Kaley brought along our next door neighbor, Grant to join in on all the fun. Grant is Kaley's age and will be going in to Kindergarten also. Kaley is much larger than Grant. She likes to beat up on him, and he loves it.

Preschool Graduate

Our little Boo graduated from Preschool today, and she didn't pick her nose through the entire ceremony. We were a little worried because last preschool performance she picked her nose and ate it. When asked about it later she didn't even realize she had done it until we showed her the video. A little scary that she picks her nose without consciously knowing it. Anyways this time she did wonderful.


They sang several songs with each kid singing their own solo. See Kaley's solo below.

I'm so proud of my boo. After the ceremony we talked to her teacher and she said Kaley is fully ready for Kindergarten and that she could have left the classroom and let Kaley take over. Meaning Kaley knows she's in charge. During the ceremony Kaley made sure that all the kid's tassles were on the right side, and if they weren't she made sure to fix them. Mom says I was the same way.



Before we know it we will be at her High School graduation. Ahh scary.
After graduation all the families went to Chick Fil A, but when Kaley found out Ricki and Grandma didn't want Chick she decided she would rather have her favorite, fajitas. So, we all went to Maudis Milagro and with a big fajita in hand Kaley exclaimed, "this is the best day of my life!!"

Kaley Flashback

The other day Kaley and I were looking at her baby pictures because Kaley girl loves to look at pictures of herself. haha. I thought I would share some of my favorites. Kaley was a very different baby than Lily. She was always smiling just like this picture and was all over the place. It's funny how when they get older they still have the same personality they did as a baby. She is still always smiling and all over the place.


Love this video. We have been watching it over and over. It cracks me up how she says pickle. I wish they could talk like that for longer. She was so cute, still is.


Like I said, always smiling. I used to take her outside to play in the grass and feel the different textures. She loved it. Now when she goes outside she looks for bugs. Never thought having girls I would have to say, "no bugs or worms in the house or the car." Kaley argued with me the other day that she was 2 in this picture because she has teeth. Sure Kaley whatever you say. (How I respond to most of what she says.)


This is at Lupe Tortillas in Houston. Love this pic. Not just because Kaley looks cute, but because Flo looks HOT! Such a good Daddy!


Loved when her hair was this length. So cute.


Potty training K was not easy, but I know it could have been worse. Not looking forward to it with Lil. Potty training is nastier than changing diapers. Even nastier than runny yellow poo diapers.


My silly Boo now!

So that's my litte Kaley flashback. We have had a lot of fun looking at her old pictures. She was such a cute little girl. I can't believe she is about to be in Kindergarten. Even though she tells me she is not a baby anymore, she will always be my baby.

Balloons

Kaley girl loves balloons. She just thinks they are the greatest thing ever made. Awhile back when we were living in Laguna she accidently let one of her precious balloons go and as we watched it float up into the sky she got very upset about her lost balloon. Being the clever mommy that I am I told her that God snatches up all those lost balloons and puts them in your room in Heaven. This quickly calmed her. We later took it a little further and told her when she is a good girl and pleases God he puts a new balloon in her room. Well, last night Flo's uncle Neal passed away and is now with the Lord. This morning I told Kaley that Neal was in Heaven and asked her what she thought he was doing she said, "I prayed to God that he would give Neal my balloons." She went on to say that he is also eating a big donut. haha Such a giver. It is comforting to know that Neal is now at peace with our Lord and Savior. Thank you for all the prayers.

School Carnival

The girls. Kaley is defiantly the cutest one. We got there late so she didn't get to put the green shirt on. Whenever I see these little girls I can't help but think about what they will be like as teenagers. I guess I'm just so terrified for my girls to be teens. Right now Kaley would rather hang out with her Mommy and Grandma than her friends. Even though that can be annoying at time I know it will not last long, so I am embracing it. I found a great Bible verse yesterday that I think every teen needs to hear. "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Timothy 2:22) I just love that. Choose your friends wisely.

Kaley loves her Gma. Didn't want to hold the pig though. The pig was squealing like crazy. Only liked little boys. haha

"Mommy, I want a pony!"